Dear James
You have articulated just how difficult it is to set up a CR station and then
to keep it running. We are meeting Supriya Sahu on Monday to find a way to push
Kapil Sibal to give a formal written order withdrawing all fees. It is time we
all took up arms -- that seems to be the only way forward.
Since CRF had taken a decision not to pay the raised fees, I would advise that
PARD pays the old spectrum fees, gets a receipt for the same, and continues
broadcasting.
Arti
Arti Jaiman
Station Director : Gurgaon Ki Awaaz Samudayik Radio Station 107.8 MHz FM
email: [email protected]
website: www.trfindia.org
Gurgaon Ki Awaaz is the first and only civil-society-led community radio
station in the National Capital Region of Delhi. Since 2009, we have been
broadcasting 22X7, in Hindi and Haryanvi, with a team of community reporters
who generate community content with community participation.
--- On Tue, 4/9/12, James Madurai <[email protected]> wrote:
From: James Madurai <[email protected]>
Subject: [cr-india] We May be the first victim for the hike in the Spectrum Fee
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Date: Tuesday, 4 September, 2012, 3:27 PM
PARD VAANOLI a Community Radio Station run by the NGO People’s Association for
Rural Development (PARD) may be the first victim for the recent hike in the
Spectrum fee. PARD VAANOLI has passed its way with so many hurdles
starting from getting the Letter of Intend from the Ministry of Information and
Broadcasting. PARD submitted its application for establishing a Community
Radio Station, during the month of March 2007 and invited to appear before the
Screening Committee in New Delhi in the month of September 2007. Without
stating any reason a letter received from the Ministry stated that the Letter
of Intend to PARD is denied. This made the organization to move the matter
with the court and when the case was filed, the Ministry has agreed to provide
the Letter of Intend. There was no reason why it was denied first and why it
was provided latter. PARD VAANOLI was officially inaugurated by the then
District Collector of
Madurai on 8th September 2009. Initially it started its broadcasting for one
hour and slowly it was extended. Now its broadcasting its programme for three
and half an hour per day starting from 1.30 pm., to 5.00 pm., daily. A
dedicated team of PARD VAANOLI makes it possible to broadcast its programme
throughout the year. When it completed its first year, the Radio Station was
terribly affected by the Lightening, by which the entire equipments as well as
the computer, transmitter, tower were damaged badly. It could make the Radio
Station to stop its broadcasting for sixty seven days and Rupees two and a half
lakhs was spent for the repair works. The team of PARD VAANOLI could get the
songs of the rural singers in and around our area and now we have songs by our
rural singers for more than twenty three hours. Our programmes are received by
the local community and we have provided chance to the school children in our
area to produce radio
programmes. The Radio Station is functioning in a remote village in Madurai
District and as such it could not get any advertisement from the local people.
In the last three years it could get one advertisement from a Shop for Rs.
500/- and one birthday wish for Rs. 30/-. The entire expenses for the last
three years which was more than Rs. Fourtyfive lakhs was met by the NGO PARD.
Without anyother source of income, now it is a burden for the NGO to spend for
the running expenses. In this situation the raise we are not in a position to
pay Rs. 91,000/- as Spectrum Fee for this year. Hence we have to take a
decision to stop the activities of the Radio Station. The Wireless Operating
License of our CRS is valid upto 30thSeptember 2012 and so if we do not hear
anything from the Government, We may be the first victim for the recent hike in
the Spectrum Fee.
With warm regards,
James Rajasekaran.EStation Manager,PARD VAANOLI
-----Inline Attachment Follows-----
Join the Community Radio Forum. For membership details, please go to
www.crforum.inJoin the Community Radio Forum. For membership details, please go to
www.crforum.in
